Alleged clerk killer brought back to CT

MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A man accused of gunning down a convenience store clerk during a robbery in Meriden is now in Connecticut.

Frankie Resto waived extradition just days after turning himself in to police in Brooklyn, New York on Friday night.

Police had secured a warrant for Resto's arrest in connection with a fatal robbery at the EZ Mart convenience store, located at 271 East Main St.

"He just went to work and he never came back," said Eyad Ghazal, victim's son.

Police say Resto killed 70-year-old Ibraham Gahzal after robbing him of $140.

"It's been horrible, it's been torture for us, waking up and not seeing my grandfather next to us has been pure torture," said Zaed Ghazal, victim's grandson.

They say while it won't bring their father back, they are thankful Resto will go before a judge and be tried for murder. And they plan to be in the courtroom every day, no matter how emotional it gets.

"We can't control ourselves, any of us, and it's not only him, but his family," said Zaed. "Everybody we have spoken to says they will do something stupid and not be able to control themselves whatsoever."

News 8 spoke with a clerk working behind the counter who says he just doesn't understand it. Ghazal did everything he was supposed to: he gave him the money, didn't resist or argue, and Resto allegedly shot him anyway. He says CT isn't good enough for him.

"I wish it was Texas, in Connecticut they don't kill people," the clerk said. "And the owner was a good guy, and his family is still crying and I hope they do something with him."

"He was happy, he loved everybody, and that morning when he went to work we thought he was going to come back and he didn't," Eyad said, "he got killed just to work. That is all he wanted to do was make a living and work, and he got killed for that."

Resto is being held on a $2 million court-set bond.

He is charged with felony murder, first-degree robbery, second-degree larceny, and criminal possession of a firearm.

He is expected to be arraigned at Meriden Superior Court on July 13th. His next court date is July 26th.